US Naval Air Station Sunnyvale, California, Historic District
Also known as: US Naval Air Station Moffett Field Central Historic District
Why it's listed
Moffett Field's central district in Sunnyvale is a naval air station campus laid out in 1933 on former bay lowlands. Its buildings, designed by the Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks, are mostly two-story white stucco structures with low Spanish tile roofs, including the Administration Building, Bachelor Officers' Quarters, aircraft tower and a cluster of officers' residences along Berry Drive. Mature trees, lawns and an entry gate unify the grounds. Dominating the site is Hangar #1, a metal-sheathed Streamline Moderne structure about 1,140 feet long, built in 1932 to house the dirigible USS Macon. Two large redwood-frame blimp hangars, built in 1943, stand to the east and are included as a detached area. The district reflects the vision of Admiral William A. Moffett, who promoted helium-filled airships for naval patrol and helped bring a west coast airship base to northern California. Hangar #1 has been recognized as an engineering landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Significance in brief: The district is the core of a west coast airship base created largely through the efforts of Admiral William A. Moffett. It combines a unified Spanish Colonial Revival campus with Hangar #1, a Streamline Moderne dirigible hangar recognized as an engineering landmark. Hangars #2 and #3 add to the lighter-than-air story.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000045, listed February 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | February 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000045 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Navy Department, Bureau of Yards and Docks |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival; Other: Dirigible Hangar; WW II Blimp Hangar |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a naval facility and air facility, with well-kept landscaping. |
| Acreage | 124 |
| Coordinates | 37.41377, -122.04952 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000045.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7494170
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.